Two years ago Dan and I registered for the Doug Flutie 5K. He had just run a full marathon the year before and still eager to run. I was less excited but went for it. Last year we couldn't run since we were traveling but decided that we would make it a tradition. This year we got our friend Grace to join us.
After training for the last 11 weeks for the race the time had come. While I hardly stuck to my training schedule I felt ready to run the event. We arrived about 9:30am to make sure we got a decent place to park since years past the lot filled up pretty early.
As we waited for the 11:20 start time we went down to the area where the vendor's were and checked out the Dunkin Dounuts, Ben & Jerry's, Mazda & Wegman's booths. Its nice to see some big groups sponsoring a great cause like the Doug Flutie 5K. By 10:45 we headed up to the start line and did some final stretching before getting in line.
The 5k (3.1 mile) rolling course on suburban roads is USATF sanctioned; certification course MA08013JK.
After a speech by Doug Flutie we all got in line and shortly there after the gun went off. The course starts behind the Leonard Morse Hospital in Framingham. It immediately went up hill and followed along the hospital drive way to Union street where the group of 724 participants turned right. We stayed on Union Street for just shy of 1 mil before taking another right onto Woodland Street where we faced the second hill of the race. As we came back down the road a family with their kids had set up a water station. I gladly and appreciatively accepted a cup of water. 3/4 of a mile later we took a right onto Juniper Lane then a left on Clearwater a right on Buckskin Lane and a final right onto Sundance Way. Half way up that road was the 2mile marker. The neighborhood residents were all out cheering for the runners. At the end of the cul-de-sac we ran down an access rode into another lovely neighborhood where we turned left on Moccasin Path and then a right onto Nokomis Way.
The race continued up and took a left onto Arrow Path before turning left back onto Union Street for the last leg. Just before the entrance to the hospital was the 3 mile marker. It was then I pushed myself and increased the pace to finish strong. I crossed the line at 29:16 / 28:58 (Gun/Net). I finished 203rd I was # 22 out of 43 in the males between 30 to 39. I had an average pace of 9:30. I was pleased because I beat my previous race record of 31:12 by 2:14.
Being the first of the three of us to cross the line I grabbed a water and took a spot to try to capture the other two crossing the line. Dan came in 292nd place but only 2 behind me in the males 30 to 39 division with a time if 31:32 / 31:14 (Gun/Net).
Grace cruised along and finished in 534th place and was 39th out of 53 in the females 20-29 bracket with a time of 40:32 / 40:32 (Gun/Net). I captured a few great shots of her powering up the final hill to the finish line.
Once done we headed down and got a free lunch by race sponsor Wegman's and then a ice cream from Ben & Jerry's. We didn't stick around since we all had to work so we headed home. It was a great day and a fun race and I am looking forward to next year.
After training for the last 11 weeks for the race the time had come. While I hardly stuck to my training schedule I felt ready to run the event. We arrived about 9:30am to make sure we got a decent place to park since years past the lot filled up pretty early.
As we waited for the 11:20 start time we went down to the area where the vendor's were and checked out the Dunkin Dounuts, Ben & Jerry's, Mazda & Wegman's booths. Its nice to see some big groups sponsoring a great cause like the Doug Flutie 5K. By 10:45 we headed up to the start line and did some final stretching before getting in line. The 5k (3.1 mile) rolling course on suburban roads is USATF sanctioned; certification course MA08013JK.
After a speech by Doug Flutie we all got in line and shortly there after the gun went off. The course starts behind the Leonard Morse Hospital in Framingham. It immediately went up hill and followed along the hospital drive way to Union street where the group of 724 participants turned right. We stayed on Union Street for just shy of 1 mil before taking another right onto Woodland Street where we faced the second hill of the race. As we came back down the road a family with their kids had set up a water station. I gladly and appreciatively accepted a cup of water. 3/4 of a mile later we took a right onto Juniper Lane then a left on Clearwater a right on Buckskin Lane and a final right onto Sundance Way. Half way up that road was the 2mile marker. The neighborhood residents were all out cheering for the runners. At the end of the cul-de-sac we ran down an access rode into another lovely neighborhood where we turned left on Moccasin Path and then a right onto Nokomis Way. The race continued up and took a left onto Arrow Path before turning left back onto Union Street for the last leg. Just before the entrance to the hospital was the 3 mile marker. It was then I pushed myself and increased the pace to finish strong. I crossed the line at 29:16 / 28:58 (Gun/Net). I finished 203rd I was # 22 out of 43 in the males between 30 to 39. I had an average pace of 9:30. I was pleased because I beat my previous race record of 31:12 by 2:14. Being the first of the three of us to cross the line I grabbed a water and took a spot to try to capture the other two crossing the line. Dan came in 292nd place but only 2 behind me in the males 30 to 39 division with a time if 31:32 / 31:14 (Gun/Net). Grace cruised along and finished in 534th place and was 39th out of 53 in the females 20-29 bracket with a time of 40:32 / 40:32 (Gun/Net). I captured a few great shots of her powering up the final hill to the finish line.
Once done we headed down and got a free lunch by race sponsor Wegman's and then a ice cream from Ben & Jerry's. We didn't stick around since we all had to work so we headed home. It was a great day and a fun race and I am looking forward to next year.
Race Results
Race Stats
Final Training Schedule
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | |
| 7/20 | Off | Off | Bravo | Off | Bravo | 1.42mi | Off |
| 7/27 | 1.42mi | Off | Bravo+.87mi | 1.41mi | Bravo+.87mi | 1.42mi | Off |
| 8/3 | 1.49mi | Off | 400R+.50mi | 1.50mi | 400R+.50mi | Off | 1.50mi |
| 8/10 | 1.44mi | Off | Bravo | 1.75mi | Bravo | Skip | Off |
| 8/17 | Skip | Off | Bravo+1.2mi | 1.80mi | Bravo+1.2mi | Skip | Off |
| 8/24 | Skip | Off | Bravo+1mi | Skip | Bravo+1.4mi | Skip | Off |
| 8/31 | 1.44mi | Off | Cancelled | Skip | Cancelled | Skip | Off |
| 9/7 | Skip | Bravo | Bravo | Skip | Bravo+2.41 | Skip | Off |
| 9/14 | Skip | Off | Bravo | 1.41mi | Skip | 3.2mi | Off |
| 9/21 | 1.42mi | Off | Bravo | Skip | Skip | Skip | Off |
| 9/28 | Skip | Off | Skip | Skip | Skip | Off | Off |
| D o u g F l u t i e 5 K R a c e D a y O c t o b e r 5 t h , 2 0 1 4 | |||||||
